Humidifying device



July 24, 1956 J. S. LOMBARD HUMIDIFYING DEVICE Filed Nov. 9, 1953 Jos S. Lomard INVENTOR United States Patent i 2,756,096 HUMIDIFYING DEVICE Jose S. Lombard, New York, N. Y.

Application'November 9, 1953, Serial No. 390,888 7 Claims. Cl. 299-20 This invention relates to non-spill liquid reservoirs particularly adapted for use in tobacco humidors for storing cigarettes, cigars, and the like in a moist atmosphere, and which may be adapted for other uses if desired.

The invention provides a humidor in which vapor is supplied continuously from a non-Spill reservoir that is especially simple in construction and low in cost. The simplified construction results in a reservoir that is easy to fill but which does not permit the escape of liquid from the reservoir into the tobacco chamber even though the humidor is accidentally turned upside down.

Other aspects, objects andadvantages of this invention are in part pointed out in and will in part be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, considered in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a humidor embodying the invention, the cover being removed to show the interior of the humidor;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the humectant reservoir, taken approximately along the line '2- 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the filler and breather plug of the reservoir of Figure 1 in posi tion for the reservoir to be filled;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showingthe two parts of the plug of Figure 3 separated from each other;

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken along line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure '6 is a sectional view of a filler and breather plug of modified construction; and

Figure 7 shows the same plug in position for filling.

As best shown in Figure l, the humidor includes a lower container portion 2 and a cover 4. The lower portion 2 of this container may be of double-wall construction in order to minimize temperature variations within the container. The cover is arranged .to .provide a substantially air-tight seal of the inner chamber but can be readily placed on and removed from the lower container. To this end the portion 2 of the container is provided with an annular curved portion 6 just below which is positioned an O ring seal 7 that extends around the outside of the container and forms an airtight seal with the inner surface of the cover 4. The cover 4 preferably is weighted so that a good seal is assured without any necessity for pressing the cover down tightly onto the lower portion 2.

In the embodiment shown in Figure '1, the tobaccoreceiving chamber 8 within the humidor is divided into a number of rectangular cigarette-receiving compartments 9, each of which in the present embodiment is adapted to hold sixteen cigarettes, by a number of .vertie'al partitions .10. Around the outside of the nine cig arette-receiving compartments are a number of-partiallyformed compartments which mayalso receivecigarettes.

The partition 10 and the lower portion 2 .of the humidor are shorter than the cigarettes so that the cig- Patented July 24, 1956 "ice arettes are easily grasped even when the humidor is full.

A reservoir, generally indicated at 1 2, is positioned in the center compartment formed by the partitions 10 and is preferably rectangular in shape and of such dimensions that it is held in position by friction, or other means, and so that additional cigarettes may be positioned along each side of it, as illustrated in Figure 1.

The details of the reservoir 12 are best shown ;in Figures 2, 3 and 4. A water-receiving chamber 14 of rectangular cross-section is formed of plastic or other suitable material. A breather plug, generally indicated at 16, is positioned in an opening in the upper end of the water-receiving chamber 14 and is arranged to permit the chamber 14 to be filled conveniently and to permit the evaporation of water from the chamber 14 into the interior of the humidor.

This plug 16 consists of an outer shell 18 which is closed at its lower end, as is indicated at 20, and which is provided with an external collar 22 near its upper end. .An annular flange 24 is for-med integrally with this collar 22 and extends outwardly therefrom. The

collar 22 fits. snugly within the opening in the top of the'watersreceiving chamber 14 with the lower surface 'interior of the, chamber 14 into the interior of the humidor, an opening 30 is provided near the lower end of the sleeve 26 and an opening 32 is provided near the lower end of the shell 18. When these two openings are positioned in alignment, as illustrated in Figure 2,the water-vapor may pass from the chamber 14 through the openings 30 and 32 upwardly through the interior of the sleeve 26, and out of the opening 29, as indicated by the arrows 34, into the tobacco-receiving chamber.

In the event the chamber 14 is accidentally inverted, water will not flow through the openings 30 and 32 into the tobacco-receiving chamber because thereis no openin to permit air to enter the chamber 14 to replace the Water. However, the chamber 14 cannot be refilled with water through the opening 29 in the condition shown in Figure 2 because no other opening is provided which would allow the escape of air from within the container 14.

In order to'fill the container, the sleeve i;26,is-moved upwardly within the shell 18 by means of the knob 28. This position is illustrated in F igure 3.

It will be noted in Figures 2 and 3 that an opening 36 extends vertically through the shoulder 22. When the sleeve 26 is positioned all'the way within the shell 18,: as shown in Figure 2, the under-surface of theannular knob 28 abutsthe ,outer surface of the shoulder 22 and thus provides aseal for the opening 36. However, when the knob 28 is lifted upwardly to the position shown in Figure 3 theopening 36 is'provided between the upper portion .of the watersreceiving chamber 14 and the outside atmosphere. Thus when water is poured in throughthe opening 29., itruns through thesleeve 26 into the lower portion of :the shell 18 :andthrough the opening 32 into the chamber 14. The air which must escape from the chamber 14 passes outwardly through the opening 36 in the shoulder 22. After the container is filled to thedesired leveL-but below the lowerend of the shell 18, the knob 2,8 is pushed downwardly to again seal the opening 36 and prevent the escape ofliquid through ,thesleeve 26. .In order to provide a .fluidatight seal between the outer surdescribed above.

face of the sleeve 26 and the inner surface of the shell 18 an O ring seal 38 is positioned within an annular groove in the outer surface of the sleeve 26.

To prevent foreign material from accidentally entering the reservoir chamber 14, a circular screen 42 is positioned across the interior of the sleeve 26 and is supported by an annular flange 40 on the inner surface of the sleeve 26; This flange is formed conveniently by an annular indentalion in the sleeve 26 which forms the groove for the sealing ring 38. 3 i

To permit control of the rate of evaporation of the liquid within the water-receiving container 14, the sleeve 26 may be rotated relative to the shell 18, by means of the knob 28, so that the openings 30 and 32 are in any desired degree of alignment. Thus the evaporation opening may be partially or completely closed. This is illustrated in the sectional view of Figure 5.

Another form of filler and breather plug is shown in Figures 6 and 7 in which similar parts are given the same numbers as in the earlier views followed by the suffix A. This plug in function and operation is the same as that shown in Figure 3 but provides a more positive seal. A shell 18A is closed at the bottom end 20A. A collar 22A formed integrally withthe shell 18A has an annular flange 24A that engages the upper surface of the reservoir 14A. The inner sleeve 26A is positioned within the shell 18A and is providedwith an O ring seal 38A and a knob portion 28A. Openings through the shell 18A and sleeve 26A near the lower end permit the reservoir to be filled and moisture to evaporate from the reservoir.

To this point, the construction is generally similar to that of the plug described in Figure 3, however the air vent and sealing arrangement have been modified. An opening 36A extends upwardly from the bottom surface of the collar 22A and opens into the interior of the shell 18A. The inner surface of the shell 18A near the upper end has an annular channel 46 which receives a collar of enlarged diameter on the sleeve 26A just below the knob.

28A. When the sleeve 26A is pushed all the way into the shell 18A as shown in Figure 6, the collar 48 covers and seals the opening 36A so that no liquid can escape as Even when the knob 28A 'is lifted upwardly, the opening 36A remains sealed until the collar 48 is completely free of the shell 18A. The air within the reservoir 14 can then pass out through the opening 36A and the space formed by the channel 46 as indicated by the arrows 50 in Figure 7.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided an improved humidor which may be readily sup-.

techniques from readily available materials; the fabrication steps being sufficiently simple to retain the advantages of low production cost.

I claim: i

l. In a tobacco humidor which comprises'a tobacco receiving chamber and a humectant reservoir in'communication therewith, the improvement which comprises means for permitting a humectant to enter said reservoir and to evaporate therefrom under controlled conditions said means including a tubular shell communicatingwith the chamber and extending into said reservoir, said shell being open at one end and having a side opening'adjacent its opposite end within said reservoir, a sleeve slidably positioned within said shell and being movable between first and second positions, said sleeve being open at both ends and having a side opening adjacent one end within said reservoir arranged to overlap said side opening of said shell when in its first position, a collar carried by said sleeve near its outer end,'and having a vent extending therethrough to establish communication between the intcrior to the exterior of said reservoirysaid collar being positioned to engage and close said vent when said sleeve is in its first position and to open the vent when in its second position.

2. In a tobacco humidor which comprises a tobacco receiving chamber and a humectant reservoir in communication therewith, the improvement which comprises means for permitting a humectant to enter said reservoir and to evaporate therefrom under controlled conditions, said means including a tubular shell extending into said reservoir, said shell being open at one end and having a side opening adjacent its opposite end within said reservoir, said shell having an internal recess near its outer end, a sleeve slidably positioned within said shell and being slidable along said shell between first and second positions, said sleeve being open at both ends and having a side opening adjacent one end within said reservoir arranged to overlap said side opening of said shell when in its first position, said sleeve having a shoulder of enlarged diameter near its outer end and forming a sliding fit with said recess, said shell having a vent extending from the interior of said reservoir into said recess, said shoudler being positioned to engage and close said vent when said sleeve is in its first position and to open the vent when in its second position.

3. In a tobacco humidor which comprises a tobacco receiving chamber and a humectant reservoir in communication therewith, the improvement Which comprises means for permitting a humectant to enter said reservoir and to evaporate therefrom under controlled conditions, said means including a tubular shell extending into said rcser voir, said shell having an opening adjacent its end within said reservoir, a sleeve slidably positioned within said shell and being movable between first and second positions therein, said sleeve having an opening adjacent one end within said reservoir arranged to overlap said opening of said shell when in its first position, a collar carried by said sleeve near its outer end and having a vent extending therethrough to establish communication between the interior and exterior of said reservoir, said collar being positioned to engage and close said vent when said sleeve is in its first position and to open the vent when in its second position.

4. In a tobacco humidor which comprises a tobacco receiving chamber and a humectant reservoir in communication therewith, the improvemcnt which comprises means for permitting a humectant to enter said reservoir and to evaporate therefrom under controlled conditions, said means including a filler tube extending into said reservoir and having an opening at one end communicating with said chamber and an opening at the opposite end within said reservoir and having a vent extending from the interior of said reservoir, and movable vent-sealing means associated with said filler tube and arranged to move between a first position wherein said vent is closed thereby and a second position wherein said vent is open.

5. In a tobacco humidor which comprises a tobacco receiving chamber and a humectant reservoir in communication therewith, the improvement which comprises means for permitting a humectant to enter said reservoir and to evaporate therefrom under controlled conditions, said means comprising a tubular shell closed at one end, open at the other end and having an opening in its side wall adjacent its closed end, a tubular sleeve mounted in said shell and having fluid tight contact with the inner wall 6 thereof, said sleeve having both ends open and having an opening in its side wall adapted to register with the opening in the side wall of said shell, said sleeve being rotatable in said shell so that the said side wall openings may be provided with means for opening and closing said vent when said sleeve is moved slidably within said shell.

7. In a tobacco humidor which comprises a tobacco receiving chamber and a humectant reservoir in communication therewith, the improvement which comprises means for permitting a humectant to enter said reservoir and to evaporate therefrom under controlled conditions, said means comprising a tubular shell closed at one end, open at the other end and having an opening in its side wall adjacent its closed end, a tubular sleeve mounted in said shell and having fluid tight contact with the inner wall thereof, said sleeve having both ends open and having an opening in its side wall adapted to register with the opening in the side Wall of said shell, said sleeve being rotatable in said shell so that the said side wall openings may be registered to various degrees of overlap, and a screen barrier interposed within said sleeve between the open ends thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 977,261 Bernstein Nov. 29, 1910 1,054,159 Wilson Feb. 25, 1913 1,514,564 Newcomer Nov. 4, 1924 2,051,777 Purinton et a1. Aug. 18, 1936 2,276,217 Lee Mar. 10, 1942 2,672,883 Dillman Mar. 23, 1954 

